What Is The Possible Future Political status Of Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

Once Kumbhakarna younger brother of Ravana performed a major yajna and penance for Lord Brahma. When the time came for asking a boon from Brahma, he asked for "Nidraasana" (bed for sleeping) instead of asking "Indraasana" (seat of Indra). He intended to ask for Nirdevatvam (annihilation of the Devas) and instead asked for Nidravatvam (sleep). His request was granted. . Kumbhakarna slept for six months. We have been sleeping for 68 years. It s now time to wake up, think and plan seriously what will be the future Political status of Manipur.

Are you very happy with the present political status of Manipur? Are you very happy with the role the Government of India is playing as Master-slave relationship ? Where is your dignity when your glorious 2000 year old history has been rendered useless? Where is your prestige when your human rights are violated ,raped and killed at random. Earlier, we thought this land of Mahatma Gandhi will be safer .

But we are mistaken and we have been betrayed on many occasions. It is time for us to stand united and do everything possible to restore our pristine glory. The present political status of Manipur s derived from the past political status of Manipur. We have to study the past in order to know the present. The present will lead to the future. We can not fight with the past. If you fight with the past, there will be no future.

At present, we have a serious communication gap and misunderstanding among the various ethnic groups mainly among Meiteis, Nagas ,Kukis and Metei Pangans leading to trust deficit , lack of unity, communal disharmony which may ignite a civil war and social unrest among the various communities. We have to remember that Manipur belongs to the Nagas, Kukis, Meiteis and Meitei Pangans.

Without Nagas, without Kukis, without Meiteis and without Meitei Pangans, this land cannot be called Manipur. Without the history of Nagas and Kukis, the history of Manipur is not complete. It is unfortunate that each ethnic group is going to Delhi and meet the Prime Minister, the President and home Ministers ,various national political leaders and seek favours and complain against each other showing our own weakness and asking to sit in Judgment like the proverbial monkey and cats.

The Government of India is very happy to see our weakness. They may be happier if we fight with each other. Because that is the only way to keep the North East divided. They are inciting us to fight in the name of secularism, in the name of Indian Constitution, in the name of Indian style of democracy, in the name of racism, in the name of politics, election, religion, ethnicity.

The destiny of Manipur is decided by the parliament of India, in other words by bigger states like UP, Bihar , Tamil Nadu West Bengal, Maharastra who are majority in the parliament. I strongly feel that the destiny of Manipur should be decided by the people of Manipur. This will be possible only when the people of Manipur are united and stand as one person.

Let us think who can destroy the boundary of Manipur in the name of Indian Constitution? Who can destroy the unity and solidarity of Manipur. Who can reduce us to minority in the name of secularism?

1. Past History of Manipur

The kingdom of Manipur existed from 1445 BCE to 1950 CE , had all the basic requirements of a kingdom such as kingship, a capital or seat of power, an administrative set-up, a territory with well defined boundary including regional principalities, rules, regulations and laws of the land which guide governance, courts of justice, revenue and administrative division of the kingdom, hierarchy of nobles and officials, an army to defend the kingdom or to attack neighbouring countries for annexation, coinage for trade and commerce, literature, script and culture indicating civilization.

2. Government of India should respect the history of Manipur.

No Indian kingdom or Princely State and no civilization in the world had such a long, unbroken history like Manipur. The Manipur kingdom was recognised by the British, by the Burmese , Assam ( Ahoms), Tripura( Takhel), Governments,with Taangja Leelaa Paakhangba as the first king. There were 16 kings before 33 CE and 74 kings from 33 CE to 1972 CE. Manipur continued to exist as a Princely State under the British from 1891 to 14 August, 1947.

Roman empire existed for only 503 years, 7 months (27 BCE- 476 CE) Mongol Empire lasted for only 162 years (1206 CE -1368CE), Mughal empire lasted for only 331 years-(1526CE-1857 CE, Gupta empire lasted for only 180 years (320 CE to 500 CE) , Maurya empire lasted 137 years (322CE–185 BCE) , Nizam of Hyderabad existed for only 234 years (1713 CE-1947CE) Maratha kingdom lasted for only 144 years (1674 CE to 1818 CE) , Mysore kingdom lasted for only 548 years (1399 CE-1947CE), How and why Manipur kingdom lasted for more than 2000 years ?

What is the secret ? The unique history of Nagas is nothing as compared with the 2000 years old history of Manipur.

3. Supreme Government of British India opened a Political Agency in Manipur.1835

In 1835, the Supreme Government of British India opened a Political Agency in Manipur. In the words of Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor General , “It was for the preservation of a friendly intercourse, and as the medium of communication with the Manipur Government, and, as occasion may require, with the Burmese Authorities on that frontier, and more specially to prevent border feuds and disturbances which might lead to hostilities between the Manipuris and the Burmese.”

Manipur never accepted Subsidiary Alliance with the British. It never paid tribute to the British prior to 1891 nor ceded any territory to them. There was no treaty guaranteeing British protection to Manipur. Manipur was defeated by the British in the war of 1891. Since then, Manipur Kingdom existed as Princely state under British India. Manipur existed as a princely state from 1891 till 15 August1947.

4. Manipur had a Constitution before India wrote one

Manipur had its own de jure constitution before India wrote her own. Maharaja Bodhchandra promulgated ‘The Manipur Constitution Act, 1947 on 1 July, 1947. Under the said constitution, the Maharaja of Manipur had already become a constitutional ruler since July 1, 1947 when he devolved his powers to the newly established State Council and Manipur State Assembly. . He was no longer the absolute monarch. Probably, Manipur was the only princely state among 565 princely states to have its own Constitution. Thus Manipur had a constitution before India had one. India has a constitution n 26 January,1950.

To be continued....